London is home to a growing and dynamic cluster of health biotechnology companies in Ontario. Innovation and discovery are nothing new in London, Ontario. Out of a fertile research community, rich with world class health care facilities and research institutions, and nourished by an irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit, there has risen a wellspring of successful and very promising biotechnology companies.

London is gaining strength as a national Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Technology, the commercialization and development of early stage biotechnology companies and a long tradition of excellence and innovation in advanced medical imaging . Medical devices are also a strong cornerstone of the London economy with such companies as the Trudell Group of Companies and 3M Canada.

Identified as a key economic growth sector, the Life Sciences Industry is one of London's largest and most enduring industries with more that $120 million spent annually on research activities at London institutions.

There is one major university and multiple hospitals in the London area with research units active in the field of Health Biotechnology. The UWO Research Park, located on the campus of the University of Western Ontario, offers a wide variety of opportunities for research based companies.

Research and expertise in such institutions as the London Health Sciences Centre, the John P. Robarts Research Institute, the Lawson Health Research Institute, the Child Health Research Institute and the London Regional Cancer Centre make London an increasingly important centre for collaboration and commercialization.

London’s Lawson Health Research Institute is the third largest in Canada, with a budget of over $40 million funding the efforts of more than 300 investigators.

At London Health Sciences Centre, more than 400 researchers work in one of Canada’s largest teaching hospitals achieving breakthrough results.

Canada’s only privately funded research institute is in London. The John P. Robart’s Research Institute has attracted 50 world-class medical scientists.

The London Biotechnology Commercialization Centre is being built with 50,000 square feet of growing room for up to 15 early stage companies.

Sources of Information:
London Economic Development Office